Tarique Rahman, the leading candidate for the position of prime minister in Bangladesh, has made his return to the nation after spending 17 years in exile, coinciding with the upcoming significant general elections.
At 60 years old, Rahman is a prominent figure associated with the influential Zia family and is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
His party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is poised to reclaim power as the country prepares for elections in the coming year. With expectations high, Rahman, who has resided in London since 2008, is anticipated to assume leadership should the BNP secure the position of the largest party.
Rahman’s return follows the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Throughout her tenure, he faced multiple criminal investigations initiated during her Awami League party’s administration; however, all charges against him were dropped following her regime’s collapse.
Currently, Hasina is in exile in India, and her political faction is unlikely to be allowed to participate in the elections, which many observers regard as potentially the most significant in the history of Bangladesh.
Recently, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for her involvement in suppressing anti-government protests, during which UN investigators estimate that up to 1,400 individuals lost their lives.
While Hasina has denied any wrongdoing, her absence from the political arena raises further questions about the upcoming electoral landscape.
Bildquelle: Foto von Georg Eiermann auf Unsplash
